Eggs from free range birds versus ones kept in a run....

[Hoosiermomma]

This is kind of like a poll to see which way of raising chickens sees more egg production or if there really is no difference. I have 13 hens whom we let out every morning and put in every night. We only get 4-6 eggs a day. I was wondering if I kept them in a run if we would get more eggs versus allowing them to free range.
I would like to hear anyone's experiences regarding both ways of raising chickens.

 

[Happy Chooks]

Mine are in a run that's about 50X100. I have 4 that are laying and I get 2-4 eggs a day.(I still have 2 freeloaders)

 

[onedozenphyllises]

Momto...

How old are they? If they're young, they may not all be laying yet. If they're older, they may be past their prime. Or they might be laying eggs someplace where you haven't found them. I've kept mine closed in and let them free range and have found no difference in the number of eggs I get.

 

[welman]

I only have 4 chickens (we started with 6). Mine are much happier when they get to free range. If they are out everyday I get 4 eggs each day. We only let them out when we are home now (we learned our lesson after a neighborhood dog got 2), if they have to stay in their run we usually only get 3, sometimes 2. I figure they are protesting.

Could yours be laying outside the coop and you haven't found their stash yet?

 

[jrabbit]

ours also lay fewer eggs if kept in the run all day. When we were on vacation, they had to stay confined - and the chicken-sitter got 1-2 eggs a day. When we were home, and they were free-range, they would lay 3-4 eggs a day.

We have 4 hens and a youngster who really SHOULD be laying any day now. Right now, they are all on strike, though ... we get 1-2 eggs a day ... sigh. I think it's the heat.

--janis

 

[Paganbird]

My hens lay in the morning... then I let them out around noonish. Occasionally, one will lay later in the afternoon, but they always have access to the coop.
When I was letting them out in the morning (due to work hours being different) I was getting fewer eggs. One day I found a hollow stump with about 20+ eggs in it. Nice.
So, yeah, I let them free-range after thay lay. I actually left them in the coop completely for a few days after I found the stump. Now all my eggs show up in the nest boxes.

 

[Hoosiermomma]

Quote:
No mine are all at 1+ years. I know they aren't passed their prime yet. I have tried leaving them in til noon or a little later and we still get the same amount. I have nest boxes for them all but they tend to all 'wait' for the igloo dog house to lay in. I just cannot figure them out. They are too funny to watch. One or two will be in the house and there is always one waiting in 'line' to get in. We used to get 10+ a day and now we're lucky to get 5-6.

 

[mstricer]

I free range ours after i get home in afternoon. I used to open their door when I was leaving for work @ 6:30 am untill I found one nesr with 11 eggs, one with 5 and one with 3. I was wandering why we were only getting 3 a day. Now their let out of coop around noon into pen and free range when I get home. today got 8 out of 8. And my Jerseys should be laying soon.

 

[mstricer]

if your hens are 1 year, I heard they moult in august and stop or slow egg production, could be wrong though I very green at this just have done lots of reading

 

[rdranch]

We built a new home for the older girls (2+years old) ever since the new girls needed to go outside last May. Of the nine of them they were laying 6-7 eggs a day. Now that summer is here with higher temps we get 2-3 per day. They get to free range about 1 acre and it does not appear to increase production. It is now the begining of the molt and I do not expect decent laying from them.

The "new" girls are laying at about 75%. Meaning about 10-12 eggs per day from 18 pullets. Things should be picking up very soon.